A while back, I wrote a post entitled Karate Refinement. My good friend and mentor Sensei Pat Nakata, often speaks and writes about this subject -- the importance of refining Karate technique.

I would like to write about a variation of this theme. It is also important to refine your character -- to refine your life.

It is good to make your shuto more efficient. It is absolutely essential to do so if you wish to improve in Karate.

But it is even more essential to work on your character -- on the totality of your personality traits. What good is a strong shuto if you are dishonest? What good is a strong kick if you are so insecure that you always seek attention (rank, title, awards)? What good is any aspect of Karate if you do not work equally hard on your daily life?

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"Karate Jutsu" means "China Hand art". Karate came to Okinawa from China.
Only in the 1930s or so, was the term "Karate" changed to mean "Empty Hand".
"China Hand" was used in Hawaii until after World War II, and is still used in some dojo.